Method of coloring photographs.



Patentad July In, I900.

C. A. LOWE.

METHOD OF COLORING PHOTOGRAPHS.

( Application filed ha. a, 190

(Specimens.)

WITNESSES doa/ C m M mums pm: :0 PnmuLm-m. WASHINGTON, o. c.

THE-

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES A. LOl/VE, OF BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS.

METHOD OF COLORING PHOTOGRAPHS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 653,579, dated July 10, 1900.

Application filed January 3, 1900. Serial No. 2'70. (Specimens) To all whon t it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES A. LOWE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Bloomington, in the county of McLean and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Iniprovements in Methods of Coloring Photographs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to processes for producing portraits or pictures; and one object of the invention is to produce from a photographic negative a portrait on a non-frangible transparent material having the desired colors applied thereto to represent an oil painting or portrait.

Another object is to provide a permanent, practically-indestructible colored or painted picture, of any size required from an ordinary photographic negative by a process which will be inexpensive, which may be quickly carried out, and which will not require the services of an artist in the application of the colors.

I attain these objects by means of the process hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a face view of a portrait which may serve to illustrate the various steps in my process. Fig. 2 is a transverse section thereof on the line 2 2, Fig. 1.

In carrying out my process I take a sheet or piece of transparent celluloid l of the re= quired size, which will depend upon the class of picture to be produced. The front side of the transparent celluloid piece should be smooth and the reverse side rough, and when suitable materialof the desired size and character is not to be found on sale I take an ordinary piece of transparent celluloid having two smooth surfaces and prepare it by roughening one side. To this roughened surface, I apply a coating of gelatin emulsion 2 to form a sensitized film. If the portrait, to be produced is to be large or life-size, an ordinary photographic negative is reproduced by an. ordinary enlarging apparatus upon a piece of the prepared transparent celluloid of the required size.

When the picture 3 has been and the coated roughened surface of the celluloid piece offers a good ground for paint or color. When the colors have dried sufficiently, I back up the portrait either by giving it an opaque coat of paint 5 of the de sired color or by placing a suitable backing upon the rear side thereof. The finished picture or portrait is then ready for framing. The smooth face 1 of the celluloid serves the purpose of a glass front for the portrait and may be cleaned with a moist cloth without in any way injuring the picture, and the celluloid being practically non-breakable and not liable to discoloration a permanent and durable portrait in colors is produced at a slight cost and having desirable qualities.

The colors or paints are applied to the back; but the celluloid being transparent the tints can be effectively blended without requiring great skill in their application.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is- The process of producing colored portraits which consists in taking a piece of transparent celluloid having a smooth and roughened surface, coating the roughened surface with a gelatin emulsion, then taking a solar print or photograph on said celluloid piece and developing it, then mounting the portrait in a stretcher and applying oil colors or paint of the required tints to the roughened surface, and then applying an opaque backing to said roughened side of the portrait, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

, CHARLES A. LOWE. WVitnesses:

JOHN R. HILL, HARVEY HINES. 

